The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-04-09

had gone 10 carry hef bundle or vests
home, and get another batch of work
Friend Decker put on his hat and
nuttOnOd his great-coat, which was
getting worn at the elbows and shiny
at the seams.
ut is bright, clear morning, al
biet a trif1e frosty" said he. II
think / may walk as far as the Len.
nox farm without sggrayating my
cough"
And under his arm he carried a
neat parcel.
Old Anastasia Akerly was wind
ing blue yarn before her fire when he
came in. She greeted him not with
out the shadow of suspicion.
Had he come like spy into the
enemy's quarters?
~ hope thee is well. Friend Anas-
tasia," said he. II have brought
thee jar of my daughters wild
/ plum sauce. Perhaps it may tempt
thy Appetite"
Anastasia Akerly colored.
II aint of no consequence" said
she. II dunno as ! care so much
about sweet things. Only there used
| to grow wild plum bush on the
Mills at home, and mother used to
boil the plums with molasses. They
were drefful sour. but there was a
flavor about 'em haint never tasted
since. And when Mary Moore told
how good Leah's was. kind o. no.
toned I'd like taste o 'em. But
Leah said she hadn't none to spare" :"
"Leah was mistaken" said Friend
Decker. "In our house there is al
ways something to spare for an old
friend like thee"
II didn't know that you looked
on me as friend" she said sharply.
"Thee ought to have been certain
Of that"
"There WIS ugly things said about
the way the Lennox property was
managed" said Miss Aker,y.
"NOthing WAS said by me, Friend
Anastasia," observed the Quaker.
IA nd as far as in me lies | am anx-
iOu3 10 I've at peace with all the world.
Hump" said the old woman.
"Well, there aint no use making up
to me; my will was drawn long ago,
and Moses Sawyer Is my heir {"
"Thee is welcome to do as thee
likes with thy own" said Friend
Decker, calmly, setting down the jar
of wild plum preserves and giancing
wistfully toward the cushioned arm
chair by the fire, for his limbs were
enfeebled by age and he had walked
a considerable distance.
But Mis- Akerly did not ask him
to sit down and rest, so he took {
fresh grip Of his knotty cane and
started on his hOmeward tramp.
"Good-in0rning to thee Friend An
astasia." to which the old lady re-
spOnded with an arliculated 3runt.
But when he was out of sight she
unscrewed the lid of the jar, anc
with an old silver spoon, worn thir
with long usage. she tested the sweet
ness of its contents.
"Jest like them mother used t
boil down with molasses when l wa
a gall" said she. II could most fancy
was gal ag'in In the old plum time
cuttin' across the lots with my sun
bonnet hitched on by one string, an(
the red dog caperin' at my heels
Waal. wal! 1t don't seem like
was close on to seventy years OF age.
Miss Anastasia had some of tn
! wild plum sauce with her scant!
!. dinner. 1t gave it relish. She att
some more with bread and cheese 70
her supper.
II never did taste nothin' tha
"Sut w tlC iiSu1 epot IIA0 tHcil
pDums." said she. 1T aint 'caus
they're reiishin'-it's cause the,
make me feel like l was out In Wis
consin, with the sassafras leaves turn
, in yaller, and the wind blowiu' il
? my face"
, Leah did not know until a neigh
bors boy brought back the jar, neatl.
, wrapped in u newspaper. what
: treat she had afforded her neighbor
"What is it, Willie ?" she aske
the boy.
= ATS the jar that had the wild plur
f Sass in il" said Willie. "Miss Akerl
. says she's much obliged--and sh
. gave me ginger eookey for bringin
II back, she did.
Father" ,"said Leah. reproachfully
to the Old man. "this is thy doing,
I Thee Is always thinking of sOme on
. else"
/ ut has done me more good than
z I had eaten 1t myself, Leah. sal
t Friend Decker. ap0!ogeically."
IA Leah ran tn him and gave him